Minutes of the 117th meeting of the Museum Council –
November 22, 2012, 12:15 – 2:15 PM, meeting room in the National Museum tower.
Present: Margrét Hallgrímsdóttir chairman, Halldór B. Runólfsson, Guðný Dóra Gestsdóttir and Ágústa Kristófersdóttir acting chairmen (Jenny Lind announced her absence due to weather)
1. Issues for discussion and decision:
1.0. Minutes of the 116th meeting submitted and signed
1.1. Managing Director's Report:
Copyright: The Executive Director of the Museums Council gave a presentation on museums and copyright at a meeting of the Copyright Council on November 15th. Harpa Fönn Sigurjónsdóttir, a lawyer for Myndstef, was at the meeting and it was decided to meet with her and discuss the status of copyright issues. Website söfn.is: At the turn of the year, ownership of the domains sofn.is and museums.is will be transferred from the Museum Council to FÍSOS. Gudrun Publishing, which is currently in consultation with the Icelandic Museums Agency to create a website about Icelandic museums, will therefore have to negotiate with FÍSOS about the use of the domains. The Museum Council's website about Icelandic museums will also be transferred to FÍSOS at the turn of the year if FÍSOS is interested in taking over its operation. Autumn meeting of the National Gallery of Iceland: The autumn meeting was a success – work is underway on a museum strategy in the field of fine arts, and the director of the museum council will participate in its work. The autumn meeting of the natural history museums was a success in terms of sales and there was a good spirit at that meeting. Work is underway on housing for the museum in Perlann and the appointment of a new museum director. The work of the Museum Council: Aspects of the council's archive system need to be reviewed, this will be done in consultation with Svanfríður Franklínsdóttir, archivist at the National Gallery of Iceland. Á.K. will serve as the director of the museum council until the end of 2014 – to maintain continuity in the council's work. The council will continue to be based in Þjms. Last meeting of the current council: The last meeting of the current council will be on December 6th at the National Museum of Iceland and will be open to visitors. The meeting will be recorded and made available on the museum council's website.
1.2 Annual reports for 2008 and 2009: Reports have been sent to councillors who do not comment on them.
1.3 The financial position of the Museum Council. Review the council's finances.
1.4 Museum Council equipment. Write off one cell phone and one laptop that are unusable.
2. Papers for discussion and decision.
2.1 Changes in the work of FÍSOS: Draft response letter to FÍSOS reviewed, issue discussed.
2.2. Project grant deferral: Presentation from the Þingeyingi Cultural Center regarding the postponement of a project grant in the amount of 400,000 kr for the maintenance of wooden boats. Approved.
2.3 Request for comment on a foundation grant from the Hunting Museum. Approved with a suggestion that the financial basis of the project be examined by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports.
2.4. Request for comment on a foundation grant from the Living Art Museum. Agreed without comment.
3. Next meeting and other matters.
Other matters: Comment on a parliamentary resolution proposal on the preservation of boats, processed between meetings.
118th meeting set for Dec. 6.
There was no further discussion and the meeting adjourned at 14:15/AK.